User capacity adaptive management framework at Yosemite National Park

Background/Question/Methods For decades land management practitioners and researchers have struggled to determine how best to address capacity in protected areas in an attempt to balance visitor use and resource protection.  In a park management context user capacity not only includes the amount, but also the type, timing and locations.  Toward this end the National Park Service employs a user capacity adaptive management framework to proactively plan and manage visitor use taking into account various types and corresponding impacts for developing various management plans. The framework consists of a number of elements encompassing both planning and management activities.  Planning activities associated with applying the framework manage Yosemite’s two Wild and Scenic Rivers included the formation of a core planning team; development of a public involvement strategy; definition of desired conditions; and application of prescriptive management zoning.  Operational or management activities included the development of indicators and standards of quality; establishment of a monitoring program; continued public outreach efforts; and determination of alternative management action strategies.  
Results/Conclusions

Yosemite National Park has been actively using this type of management framework for almost five years and the process has provided a mechanism for prioritizing ecological restoration projects in the park.   This presentation will give an overview of the process that uses biological, cultural, and social indicators to determine acceptable levels of use and impact to one of American’s iconic national parks.   The talk will also show how various management strategies are being triggered based on the results of the indicator monitoring data.   For example recent riverbank condition and social trail indicator monitoring data clearly showed that some attention needs to be paid toward El Capitan Meadow in Yosemite Valley.   To that end, the park is initiating an environmental assessment for that site to examine potential actions.